Blue Shield Offers New Medicare Plans and Expanded Healthcare Services to Help Members Lead Healthy, Active Lives

LOS ANGELES (October 22, 2018) – Blue Shield Medicare members in Southern California can take advantage of new plans and expanded healthcare services, such as hearing aid benefits and a personal emergency response system, that enable them to lead healthier, more active lives.

“Our goal is to provide Medicare members with plans that meet their needs when they need care, and help them lead the most satisfying lives every day,” said Terry Gilliland, M.D., senior vice president and chief health officer. “Expanding our coverage to include things like hearing aid tests and hearing aids can make a big difference in a member’s quality of life. It’s this kind of care that makes Blue Shield worthy of our family and friends.”

Available during the 2019 Annual Enrollment Period, the new plans and services include:

Available in San Bernadino (partial) and Riverside (partial) counties, this new Medicare Advantage Plan includes many of the benefits of our Blue Shield 65 Plus and also includes:

$0 monthly plan premium

Eyeglass frames and eyeglass lenses or contact lenses for a $0 copay1

Routine hearing exam for a $0 copay and access to Vista brand hearing aids for a low copay

Routine dental services

Personal Emergency Response System - an alert device that provides access to help 24/7, at the push of a button

Out-of-pocket maximum amount of $999

Medicare Supplement Plan F Extra

Now available across the state, this new plan offers all the benefits of Blue Shield’s most

popular Plan F but with even more coverage – at lower rates for ages 65 – 80. Expanded services include:

Hearing aid coverage

Vision benefits

Personal Emergency Response System

And, as with all of our Medicare Supplement plans, members have coverage anywhere in the U.S. and can choose any doctor, specialist, or hospital that accepts Medicare.

“Our new personal emergency response system benefit is important for heathy members and those dealing with more complex issues,” said Gilliland. “Getting help when you need it is critical, and may even save your life.”

*$0 copay for either one pair of eyeglass frames or for contact lenses every 24 months (up to $150 in retail value) and $0 copay for medically necessary eyeglass lenses every 12 months when you use a network provider.

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About Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California strives to create a health care system worthy of our family and friends that is sustainably affordable. We are a not for profit, independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with care for four million members, 6,800 employees and more than $17 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 and headquartered in San Francisco, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare health care service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $500 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation since 2002 to have an impact on California communities.